If I nap….
I can’t stop smiling
Christmas Shopping with the Tater and…
My favorite cousins Nyla, Morgan, Levi and Kelly 🙂 They put the Merry in Christmas.
  
Working so hard!
She works all day, that little Tatum. She starts the day with LaLa’s and MaMa’s. I’m a sucker for this…
This along with “Hiiiieeeeee” when prompted by a wave from another. This “Iiiieeeee” accompanies her want for crushed ice pieces! Yep, she loves these little popsicles and claims it when she sees me sip a drink. So her brain buzzes with moving neurons the minute her eyes open, but this is trumped by her body wanting to GO!!! Put me down, Mom!
The second she is put down…..BAM! She’s off! Freedom! Then, to a stand; one mississippi; two mississippi…step..Kaboom! She’s so close! But, we celebrate that step anyway…clap clap clap
I realized I was not feeding her enough calories because she switched to milk which has far less calories than formula; but this particular day, she just wanted to sleep. 
As said before, she works so hard, that little Tatum!
Hard working, hard sleeping, and hard smiling! 🙂
Mastering the bits
I see now why moms (mostly moms with infants) have duck fins. They are constantly moving, yet remain calm on the surface. If a moment arises to sit and NOT move, it is treasured like appreciating a Phoenix sunset. The rarity of it makes it very hard to actually relax because the moving never ends; the moving of not only every limb of the body but the mind.
Writing gives me a chance to remain reflective and introspective; I constantly am analyzing my Tatum-raising while probably ignoring every other ruminating opportunity. That is perhaps why this blog has morphed into “Totally Tatum.”
Pre-Tatum, and as a single gal no kids, my world really was filled with Totally Steph. As much as I would like to defend my altruism through being an educator or a giver of my time to my church…or as an all around good person who loves others,  I always could come home to my house and my couch with my bible or favorite book and my homemade meal on my schedule…all completely taken for-granted and really not realizing it was all about me. How could I know what I did not know? And how could I know what the other side would be like? One cannot possibly judge either world until, as Atticus Finch says, “You walk around in [his] shoes for a while.”
In fact, I think that Washington D.C-ites or School boards/decision-makers cannot really be considered credible unless they have ANY CLUE as to what they are defending. For example, people making decisions about insurance formularies or coverage are NOT usually physicians or pharmacists. People making decisions about what is best for education are NOT teachers or home-school parents. People who make decisions about funding for our military have NOT been in the military experiencing first-hand the importance of the U.S. being a strong nation.
Removing myself from this waxing eloquent pedastal which really is just some fierce wonderings, I am learning to appreciate and master the bits of uninterrupted time to just sit; to just appreciate; to just be. Tatum has given me this gift; the gift of true gratitude. And an appreciation of the importance of mastering the bits.
QT with my QT
Qualtiy time with my CUTIE! It is a total blessing living right next door to the Railroad park. While the rest of Scottsdale decided to celebrate “Black Friday,” Tatum and I decided to spend our money on riding the TRAIN!
At a gorgeous 72 degrees, Tatum had her water and I had my shades.
Off we went, taking the short cut through the back side. This way we avoid the parking lot which was packed. Weren’t all these families supposed to be spending their money at Kierland or SFS? Nope. They were here. Babies from 1 month (being carried in pouches) to family reunions lunching at the ramadas. The line for the train looked a mile long, but oh well, we are here! My $2 ticket (she is free) bought us a place in the 30-minute line. Tatum’s 17.15 pound body continued to increase in weight each minute we stood there. “Where is that darn train, mom?”
However, all around us were kids and babies to meet and parents to commiserate with. Tatum always has to be chewing something, so I had a pouch of pumpkin spinach in my hand since she loves to chew the lid. Delicious! That or my phone. She just traded back and forth as we stood minute by minute. The train is nearing!….FINALLY.
My patient 30-minuter decided the minute we sat in our carseat she would start to squirm. No…..fuss and squirm…No….fuss, squirm, and wiggle! Where is that conductor to yell, “All aboard!”????
At last…..Here we go! AND…..There’s that patient girl’s smile!
Around and around and around the park..through the tunnel and back~ She just loved it! We waved “HI!” to all the park goers as they waved back. Thrilling!
With a full diaper and my jello arms, we headed home just in time for a lovely lady to volunteer to snap our pic:Â 
Hooray for Black Friday!
Happy Thanksgiving with my Joyful Family!
What a delicious day we have in store for us.
Delicious:Â very pleasant to taste; very pleasing or enjoyable. Yep, not only for our palate but for our soul. A day to be completely and totally dedicated to our blessings that we MUST spend time rejoicing. Why? Because this is the key to true happiness: Gratitude. And I am so darn grateful for …. Well, let’s start with God. Without Him and my relationship with Jesus, I’d be a lost puppy, literally; miserable and straying aimlessly. Because OF Him, I have so much. He gave me the opportunity to grow and change..to make mistakes and still be loved. He gave me this precious bundle:
My family is the most important gift I have. I’ll spend the day with MY precious MOM, Kelly, James, Morgan, Nyla, Levi, and now James’ mom!! Tatum will enjoy each one 😉
James, after riding 100 miles with Levi on “Tour de Bakery” is thrilled to be home!
and Kelly? She spent her day in the kitchen with the ladies as they all made miracles for our delight.
Morgan and Nyla diligently made delights, and James can’t wait to partake! Thanks gals 🙂
While all this is being prepared, Tatum is thankful for these walking helpers, Kel’s new oak stools!
Levi and James were not so thankful for the screeching noise interrupting the Raider-Cowboy game. So..thank goodness it’s time for our delights!
But first a toast….to our upcoming spread. A must!
We all shared our most precious thankfulnesses (?) and parTOOK! Tatum enjoyed scraps of turkey, cranberries, potatoes and carrots, gleefully I might add. She made it and is now looking for dessert.
All in all, a brilliant celebration thanks to my family. Tatum and I headed home with our full bellies and our car packed with leftovers! (woohoo!, Thanks Kel!)
